Mamma Mia, Narsha!

Narsha of the Brown Eyed Girls just released the music video for her single “Mamma Mia” and as k-pop fans have already commented, it may be a bit too risque for TV. Korean TV stations have strict regulations when it comes to what is appropriate viewing for their audience, and Narsha’s definitely pushing that line by engaging a steamy tryst in her car with a hot white guy in her MV. Now, normally, I dont bat an eyelid at interracial parings in pop culture. But I happened to read these articles (here and here) at the Grand Narrative which suggest that Asian female/white male pairings are rare in Korea, at least in advertising, though white female/Asian male pairings are not uncommon. Even then, I have rarely seen either depiction reach this level of sexiness, so I wonder whether this will cause any stirrings among the general public. What really intrigues me about the video, thoug,h is the comment made by McRoth – “I cant tell if she’s objectifying the men or herself…” Has Narsha, in an attempt to play up her “adult-dol” image allowed herself to become merely a sex symbol for the enjoyment of her male audience?

Here’s the video if you haven’t seen it:

So the video is basically Narsha picking up a dude, making out with him and then returning to her room to find some other dudes that she forgot about waiting for her (she likely left them there to find some fresh meat) all while being followed by a few women (female members of the group Sunny Hill) who are trying to figure out how she manages to attract all the men. Of course, this is no mystery to the viewers, as Narsha is clearly presented as the object of desire for the viewers and the men in the video, and the object of envy for the women. She’s the focus of every shot, and has the biggest hair and the flashiest clothes and most elaborate makeup. I haven’t seen a translation of the lyrics but I’m guessing the song’s about how she’s hot ish and no one can handle her (tried Google translate and got something with Obama…). She’s clearly a subject of the male gaze here despite being the one treating men like handbags (for more on this, see the second half of this post over at the Grand Narrative). So while objectifying men (and presenting a more assertive woman on television) she still ends up being objectified – possibly because the only reason she seems to get all these men is because she’s hot, and not necessarily because she has any other talents such as sweet-talking or any other qualities other than physical attractiveness.

The whole thing is weird for me because despite showing a more liberated female, it isn’t necessarily liberating for all females because the capability to hold many men in thrall at the same time is limited to only Narsha, because she’s Narsha. It also doesn’t do anything to overturn the “men are men but women are sluts” argument when it comes to sex, because she appears OVERLY promiscuous and UNNATURALLY skilled at getting some, in comparison to the other females in the video. (Men are generally considered to be naturally charismatic and attractive, women, less so.) Maybe she’s purposefully pushing the envelope and exaggerating things to prove that it’s not a big deal for ladies to get with more than one guy. *shrugs* Do what you do, Narsha. Just try not to get banned in the process, lolz. I like the song and the style of the video – I just wish there was some dancing in it. That beat is made for funky dance moves.

I agree with alla. It’s a music video, unless you’re Michael Jackson or Madonna know one is going to care. I thought the MV was fun, the song is super catchy and I like that Narsha works out with the so called Korean pop box. I don’t think Narsha went into this trying to liberate women…jeez. All she’s stating is that SHE’S hot and SHE can get whoever she wants. Believe me, I don’t need other women to help me feel liberated. I’m fine, thank you.

Soulhead

@alla : +1

The only thing that I see is a woman who act over-confident in public and make all the girls jealous ,but in fact she is very shy and the guys with her are in fact as shy as her and that’s just a wall between herself and others. Maybe she need scandals and attention to make her feel better with her shyness …Other ways , men in this video look like some gigolo ,an image who is a way more degrading for men than Narsha’s image : a naughty and confident woman…

Blasphemy!

Interesting read, as I think the guest poster MELLOWYEL opens up an interesting discussion of gender representation(s) in pop culture.

Also, to the people that go–>”who cares!!!!!!!!!*(*^*&%j”

To me it equals–> “I don’t want to use my head and I refuse to enlighten my perspective on the ubiquitous pop culture that has a clear impact on society”

Seriously, if your (only) response is to undermine the relevance of the topic at hand, you did not fully ascertain the focus or message of the article and thus where incapable to engage in it. . .